Air conditioning device



Feb. 6, 1951 Filed Aug. 21, 1947 H. RINNMAN AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IIYVENTOR. liar 7mm,

Feb. 6, 1951 H. RINNMAN 2,540,753

AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 1 52illlll' 3 -50 w INVENTOR.

l flarzgflimmm I BY Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air conditioning devices ofthe type which employ a chemical substance for changing the condition ofthe surrounding atmosphere.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device forpositioning an air treating chemical substance in exposed relation withthe surrounding atmosphere in places where it is desired to conditionthe air, such as in cellars, vaults, clothes closets, containers, oreven an entire room or building, which device consists of an outerreceptacle and a holder for receiving the chemical substance which isadapted to be selectively mounted relative to the receptacle whereby thesubstance may be initially enclosed in a substantially airtight mannerand whereby it may be quickly and conveniently exposed to thesurrounding atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for containinga chemical substance having moisture absorbing properties which includesa container and a holder for the substance which are so arranged thatthe substance may beenclosed in the container in a substantiallyairtight manner when not in use and when desired it may be convenientlyand quickly exposed to the surrounding atmosphere to attract moisturefrom the atmosphere and to deliver excess accumulated moisture into thecontainer.

A more specific objector the invention is to provide a water receivingreceptacle having an aperturedcover member and a desiccant containingholder which is adapted to be secured to the receptacle by the covermember in one position in which the desiccant is enclosed in asubstantially airtight manner and in another position in which thedesiccant is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere and excess moistureattracted by the desiccant will be accumulated in the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water receivingreceptacle having a reversible cover member and a desiccant containerattached at one end to the cover member whereby when the cover is placedon the receptacle in one position the desiccant is enclosed within thecontainer and when the cover is reversed and then placed on thereceptacle the desiccant is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere andwherein a temporary sealing member is initially removably secured on thereceptacle cover when the cover is placed on the receptacle with thedesiccant in the enclosed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of thecharacter described a convenient means for selectively increasing theexposure of the moisture absorbing material to the surroundingatmosphere and thereby regulate the absorbing rate of the device.

A further object of the device is to provide in a device of thecharacter described means where. by the device may be readily filledwith a fresh supply of the moisture absorbing material or ad.- ditionalmaterial may be readily added as desired.

While the invention is particularly adapted for use with a chemicalsubstance for dehydrating or dehumidifying the atmosphere in a room orthe like it is also effective for use with substances for fumlgating,scenting, deodorizing, etc, which it may be desirable to retain in anairtight manner and at times expose to the atmosphere.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from a descriptionof the preferred forms of the invention which are shown by way ofillustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an air treating device embodying theprinciples of the invention, the holder for the chemical substance beingon closed within the outer receptacle and being shown in elevation withportions broken away;

Fig. 2 is an exploded elevational View of the device with the chemicalholder partially with.- drawn from the outer receptacle;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the chemical holder supported onthe top of the outer receptacle;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of thedevice;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4 with partsbroken away, the chemical holder being mounted in exposed position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a further modified form of thedevice; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the device shown in Fig. 6 with parts brokenaway, the chemical holder being mounted in exposed position. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the preferred form of thedevice comprises an outer imperforate receptacle or container l0 and achemical receiving container or holder member II which is adapted to beselectively secured in a completely enclosed position within thereceptacle It or in a completely exposed position above the same.

The outer receptacle it! which is illustrated as tubular in form may beany desired shape. and may be constructed of glass, metal, plastics,paper or any other suitable material. The receiptacle H3 is providedwith a relatively Wide open mouth l2 formed by the neck l3 which is withan open mouth 3!.

threaded to receive a threaded metal retainer ring 14 having arelatively narrow inwardly directed flange [5.

The chemical holder Il may be formed of wire screen, perforated sheetmetal or any similar material which i capable of holding or retaining achemical substance such as calcium chloride, silica gel or the like incrystalline or cake form. The body of the holder member H is preferablythe same form as the outer receptacle it and is somewhat smaller incross section. It may be flanged at its ends Or provided withreinforcing members is for greater trength. The base or bottom end ofthe holder II is mounted on a supporting disk i? which is provided withperforations IS. The holder H is preferably rigidly secured within aflanged ring l!) which is rigidly secured to the disk ii. The top orfreeend of the holder it is provided with a removable cap member 2d. Thecap 28 which may be attached to the holder l i by a simple friction fitas shown, or by a screw threaded'connection, is illustrated as a flangedring 2i having a perforated surface 22 formed of wire screen or similarmaterial. It may also be formed from a s'ngle piece of imperforatematerial. The removable cap 23 is provided so that the holder H may befilled with the chemical substance from the free end. As an alternativeconstruction the free end of the holder ll may be permanently closed byeither a perforated or imperforate member and the base end of the holdermay be removably connected to the supporting disk ll. The supportingdisk ii is of the proper size to fit within the retainer ring it andwhen positioned. against the top of the receptacle ill may be clampedthereto by the flange i5 of the ring it. A disposable imperiorate diskmember 23 is provided for positioning between the flange l5 and thesupporting plate ii to seal the receptacle l0 when the holder ii isinitially positioned within the same.

The device is adapted to be initially assembled as shown in Fig. l witha charge of the chemical substance in the holder H and with the sealingdisk 23 clamped in position over the perforated plate ll by means of theretaining ring it. When it is desired to use the device, the metalretaining ring id is removed and the sealing disk 23 is disposed of. Theplate H and the holder H are removed from the receptacle it. After beinginverted, the disk ii is repositioned on the top edge of the receptacleit and clamped in position thereon by replacing the metal retaining ringhi, the central aperture in the ring it being sufficiently large toaccommodate the holder l l which projects above the receptacle Iii. Whenthe chemical substance within the holder H is a desiccant such ascalcium chloride, the moisture in the surrounding atmosphere is absorbedby the calcium chloride forming the liquid hydrate which drips downthrough the solid desiccant as deliquescense and into the outerreceptacle l6 where it remains until it can be conveniently removed. Anymoisture running down on the outside surface of the holder ll isdirected within the holder H by flanged ring Hi which provides arelatively small circumferential pocket 24 (Fig. 3) between the same andthe perforated wall of the holder.

A modified form of the device is shown in Figs. i" and 5. The outerreceptacle St is similar to the receptacle it shown in Fig. 1 and isprovided The chemical holder 32 is similar to the holder ll shown inFig. l and is permanently secured to the supporting plate 33 by aflanged ring 34. The plate 33 is formed of perforated material and issecured to an intermediate flange 35 on the retaining ring 38. Theretaining ring 36 is reversible having a threaded outer extension 31which is provided with a temporary sealing disk 38 may be of anysuitable material and is attached to the outer edge of the retainingring portion 31 in any suitable manner to provide a substantiallyairtight seal when the ring 36 is initially secured on the receptacle3B. The free end of the holder 32 is provided with a removable cap 39similar to cap 20 shown in Fig. 1.

An additional feature of this form of the device which is equallyapplicable to the other forms illustrated consists of a removablecovering material of paper or the like which initially surrounds theperforated chemical holder 32 and which is weakened or perforated alongthe lines 46 and 4! to divide the material into strips 52 which may besuccessively torn off and removed to expose as much of the perforatedsurface of the holder 32 as desired when the holder 32 is exposed to theatmosphere. 7

This form of the device is used in the same manner as the preferred formillustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. The retaining ring 36 is removed from theouter receptacle 3i) and the sealing disk 38 is separated from the sameand discarded. The ring 35 is inverted and the extending portion 31 isreplaced on the mouth 3| of the outer receptacle 3a to pos-tion theholder 32 (Fig. 5) in the exposed position in contact with thesurrounding atmosphere.

A further modification of the device is illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7.This form of the device is particularly adapted for very economicalmanufacture. The tube-like outer receptacle 59 is preferably of paper orsimilar relatively cheap material. The chemical holder 5| is formed ofany suitable perforated material and is secured to the supporting plate52 which is preferably perforated. The holder 5! is provided with aremovable closure cap 53 on the free end. The

outer receptacle 58 in either the position shown in Fig. 6 with thechemical holder 5i disposed within the outer receptacle 5% or in theposition shown in Fig. 7 with the chemical holder 5| supported inexposed position. A sealing cap 53 is provided for initially closing thetop of the retaining sleeve 55 (Fig. 6). V

In using this form of the device the sealing cap 58 is removed and thesleeve 55 is withdrawn from the outer receptacle 5E1. After beinginverted, the sleeve 55 is repositioned on the receptacle 5%} with thechemical holder 5| extending upwardly therefrom in exposed position.

In all of the illustrated forms of the invention, the. holder for thechemical substance is attached at one end to a supporting disk orsimilar 7 disk or plate 38. The

rated from the outer receptacle. The sealing disk may be permanentlydisposed of if it is the type illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 or it may beretained with the device if it is the replaceable type illustrated inFigs. 1 to 3, 6 and 7 in the event that it is desired to reposition thechemical holder within the outer container and reseal the same therein.

While specific details of construction and particular materials havebeen referred to in describing the illustrated forms of the invention itwill be appreciated that other details of construction and othermaterials may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting an air treating substance comprising an opentop receptacle, a cover for closing the top of the receptacle,perforated plate means cooperating with said cover for supporting aquantity of the substance in either of two positions relative to thereceptacle, the rnaterial being enclosed within the receptacle in oneposition and being exposed to the air without the receptacle in theother position, said cover selectively securing said perforated platemeans on said receptacle in either of the two positions and a disposablesealing disk member adapted to be interposed between said plate meansand said cover to provide a substantially airtight enclosure of thesubstance when it is positioned within the receptacle.

2. A dehydrating device, comprising a receptacle adapted to retain waterand having a mouth opening, a cover for said opening including animperforate disk and a clamping ring, a perforated container forsupporting a dehydrating material, a perforated disk on one end of saidcontainer for supporting said container in said mouth opening wherebysaid container may be selectively positioned in enclosed relation insaid receptacle or in exposed relation above said mouth opening, andsaid supporting disk cooperating with said cover clamping ring wherebysaid clamping ring will secure said perforated container in eitherenclosed or exposed position as desired.

3. A dehydrating device as recited in claim 2 wherein said perforatedcontainer is openable at one end thereof for providing access to thedehydrating material.

4. An air drying device comprising a container having an open mouth atits upper end, an air drying chemical holder having perforated walls, anapertured plate on one end of said holder, said plate being adapted tosupport said holder in said container mouth with said holder extendinginto said container or with said holder pro- J'ecting above saidcontainer, an apertured securing band adapted to secure said supportingplate in said container mouth imperforate plate member cooperating withsaid securing band to provide an airtight closure of said mouth whensaid holder is supported within said container.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 wherein the chemical holder isprovided with a sectional disposable wrapper which is adapted to beremoved to progressively expose the perforations in the walls of theholder.

6. An air drying device comprising a container having an open mouth atits upper end, a perforated reversible cover member adapted to besecured on said mouth, a perforated desiccant containing holder securedat one end to said cover m m r w ere y d co er m m er will support and aseparable l sealing the perforated top of said said holder on saidcontainer in either an enclosed or an exposed position thereon, and acover clamping member having an imperforate separable portion forinitially securing said cover member on the mouth of said container in asubstantially airtight manner with said holder in the enclosed positionthereon.

7. An air drying device as recited in claim 6 and a separable portion onsaid perforated holder for providing access to the interior thereof topermit the holder to be refilled with the desiccant.

8. An air treating device comprising a container having an open mouth atits upper end, a chemical holder having perforated walls, an aperturedplate secured on one end of said holder, said plate being adapted toselectively support said holder in said container mouth with said holderextending into said container or with said holder projecting above saidcontainer, an apertured cap for said container mouth adapted to clampsaid supporting plate in either position in said container mouth and aseparable imperfo rate member adapted to close the aperture in said capto provide an airtight closure of said mouth when said holder issupported within tainer.

9. An air drying device comprising a container having an open mouth atits upper end, a reversible cover member for said mouth adapted to besecured in telescoping relation on said container, a desiccantcontaining holder having perforated body and top secured at the top endwithin said cover member whereby said cover member will support saidholder on said container in either an enclosed or an exposed positionthereon, said cover member having a separable and disposable discportion for initially container in a substantially airtight manner withsaid holder in the enclosed position thereon and a progressivelyremovable wrapper on the body of said desiccant holder for covering theperforations therein whereby the degree of exposure of the desiccant tothe surrounding atmosphere may be varied.

10. A receptacle for supporting an air treating material comprising abody portion, a cover having a perforate portion for closing the same,means cooperating with said cover for retaining a quantity of thematerial in either of two positions relative to the body portion, thematerial being enclosed within the body portion in one position andbeing exposed to the air withs out the receptacle in the other position,said cover securing said material retaining means on said body portionin either of the two positions desired, and a removable and disposableimperiorate member adapted to be positioned in said cover to close saidperforate portion thereof and provide a substantially airtight enclosurefor the material when it is positioned within the body portion.

said con- HARRY RINNIWAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,656 Moyer Apr. 17, 19171,706,444 Dietrich Mar. 26, 1929 1,920,915 Poggel Aug. 1, 1933 2,376,046Gelfand "Hm-ma" May 15, 1945

